Make: Kongsberg Vapenfabrikk

Model: 1860 Army Short Kammerlader

Serial Number: None

Year of Manufacture: 1861

Caliber: 11.77mm

Action Type: Single Shot Breech-Loading Percussion Rifle

Barrel Length: 30"

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a brass blade dovetailed to a base at the front of the barrel. The rear sight is a folding ladder-style sight, presenting a V-notch when folded down and with a V-notch slider on the ladder. The slider is a little loose and tends to fall to the bottom when adjusted upward.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The stock is one-piece smooth wood with two bands, a sling swivel on the front band, a swivel in front of the guard, straight wrist, brass screw in the front of the straight comb and steel buttplate. The nosecap is missing. There is a notable loss in the top of the wrist behind the receiver with a crack on the opposite side. The stock otherwise shows fairly even scattered wear and finish loss. The LOP measures 13 1/4" from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The plate has infrequent scattered finish with most surfaces showing erosion. Overall, the stock is in Good-plus condition as refinished Antique.

Type of Finish: It is not clear if the original finish was browned or bright.

Finish Originality: There is no evidence of a new finish being applied.

Bore Condition: The bore is gray. The Whitworth-style hexagonal rifling is well defined. There is scattered erosion and some light pitting in the bore. In this writer's opinion, the bore rates 5+/10.

Overall Condition: The surfaces have mostly gone to an even patina if finished bright. If browned, there may be some finish remaining. There are some scattered nicks, scuffs and scratches. The left receiver flat has apparently been cleaned to help read markings. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads range from sharp to disfigured with usable slots. The markings range from clear to worn and incomplete. Overall, this rifle rates in about Good condition as Antique.

Mechanics: The action lever is a little loose with no real detent in the closed position. The breech-block must be pushed down manually to get it to seat on the barrel in the closed position. The sear engagement is poor, the hammer will not stay in the cocked position. We have not fired this rifle. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This rifle comes with a modern production leather sling.

Our Assessment: Hard to find in America, and quite rare to find in original percussion configuration, the Norwegian Kammerlader rifles have a fascinating design. Reminiscent of the American Hall rifles, the Kammerlader sought to make a breech-loading mechanism with adoption going all the way back to 1842. There were a number of models and variants, this being a Model 1860 Short Army. In addition to the unique mechanism, the rifles used Whitworth-style hexagonal rifling coupled with a hollow-base bullet. Between the speed of breech-loading and the performance of hollow-base bullets in the rifling, the Norwegians had a very modern, high-performance rifle which likely helped to spur the surrounding great powers of Europe to step up their own advances in rifle design. This is a wonderful opportunity for a scarce and very mechanically interesting military rifle from the early breech-loading years. Please see our photos and good luck!